PC Repair Achievement Standard 91081

Hardware - Any computer part you can physically touch

1) Identifying Parts - If you feel confident with identifying the following PC parts, get Miss to test you. Only if she signs off on your knowledge can you move onto the next step:

• Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Hard drive (HDD)
• Power Supply Unit (PSU)
• Motherboard
• Video Graphics Accelerator (VGA) card
• SATA cable
• IDE cable

To learn the parts, copy these questions into an email to Miss - lilah_edmonds@hotmail.com and use this website to answer the questions or this website as an alternative. As you find the answers, try and learn the parts as well. In pairs test each other until you can say the parts. Then get Miss to test you.

Answer these questions by clicking on part number, read what it says then find the answer and put it in an email:

• #9 - What does the power supply (PSU) do? What parts of a computer does it power?
• #4 - What is the hard drive (HDD) for? Which disks allow you to erase and record again?
• #3 - What is another name for a CPU? What body part is the CPU like? What's 4 steps are in the machine cycle?
• #7 - What is another name for RAM? Is memory temporary or long term storage? True or False, more memory means a faster computer?
• #11 - What piece of hardware does the video (VGA) card connect to so you can see the display?
• #6 - Looking at the motherboard picture, how many RAM banks or slots does the top one have?

3) Building Parts - Once you are able to recognise the above parts randomly, you are ready to learn how to assemble a computer. Working in pairs, follow these steps and see how you go assembling a second hand PC. Make sure you take turns assembling parts. Take photo's of each other for your assessment log!. Save these to your H drive for use later. Each of you should have at least 3 photo's of you handling 3 different hardware parts.

4) Knowing your PC - Download this worksheet and use your hardware to answer these questions -

Software: - Anything you use on the computer but can't physically touch.

1. Save this file to your H drive and complete the software booklet
   

   Software Booklet.docx
   

   • Details
   • Download
   • 49 KB
   You must complete this before you can begin an operating system installation. Try and understand the difference between system software like Windows 7 and user applications like Chrome.
2. Installing an operating system:
   • When Miss has signed off on your PC building and software booklet, ask her for an operating system disk and instructions.
   • Install the operating system. Create a written log as you go about the steps/settings you chose as evidence you installed it.
   • Find out how to get to the Device Manager. Look at what it has listed. You need to know how to install a device driver for your assessment test. This tells the operating system what the hardware is to use e.g. a sound card or video card. See Miss about installing a device.
3. Installing an application
   • Ask Miss for the CD to install an application.
   • You need to be able to fix an error with running a problem. Ask Miss to demonstrate. Take notes as you will need it for your assessment test!
4. Installing a printer
   • Move the HP printer to the desk by your computer. Plug it into the computer using a USB cable. Take notes on ALL the steps you do to install the printer. Send a test page to the printer and keep it for your assessment evidence. Write your name and date on the printed page.

Assessment Task:

Print, sign and submit this with your assessment when you have finished

For any who finish early and want an extra 3 credits, feel free to move on with this standard:

PC Report Achievement Standard 91080

Find the answer to these questions:

1	Read limaxray's write up about usb vs ps2 keyboards and write in your report under 2bi) the differences between usb vs ps2 according to him. The key word is "standardise". The most important information is in the last paragraph!	http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080131055520AAxaRxl
2	Read the italics part at the start. Write in your report under 2bii) the main reason why USB devices replaced LPT/Parallel printer ports.	http://www.ehow.com/info_11416415_advantages-usb-ports-over-parallel-ports.html
3	Read the same same link as # 2 above, except under the Speed heading and write in your report under 2biii) the difference in speed between parallel ports, usb1, 2 and 3.
4	Read the italics part at the start. Write in your report under 2biv) how each type of connection sends data; One reason under Capacity why sata is better; one reason under Speed why sata is better; Also write the speed of each type of hdd.	http://www.ehow.com/list_6027501_sata-vs_-ide-advantages-disvantages.html
5	Read the italics part, write what VGA and DVI stands for in your report under 2bv); Under DVI Advantages and Personal Preferences, write 2 advantages this type of connection has over VGA.	http://www.ehow.com/info_8594600_advantages-dvi-over-vga.html
6	Read the italics part, and write what DVI does to VGA analog signals. Add this to your report under 2bv)	http://www.ehow.com/info_12000680_computer-dvi-vs-analog.html
7	Draw up a table in your report for 2bvi). It should have 4 rows down and 3 columns across. Write PCI, AGP and PCI Express down. Then write Speed and Bandwidth across. Count 11 paragraphs down. Starts with..."Before taking a look at. Fill in your table with the speed and bandwidth of each of the above.	http://www.geeks.com/techtips/2005/techtips-031005.htm http://www.hardware.windowsreinstall.com/graphicscard.htm (read this site if you don't understand what a video card is for).

Assessment Task:

Websites to help with report:

Question #:	Summary:	Website:
2c	Follows the letter d when you perss it on a keyboard, how it gets to the screen.	http://voices.yahoo.com/how-data-flows-through-computer-107133.html
2a	How a CPU works	http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4709728_computer-process-information.html
2a and c	Read from lesson 2-6. Gives an overview of the components of a computer and how they work together.	http://educate.intel.com/en/TheJourneyInside/ExploreTheCurriculum/EC_IntroductionToComputers/ICLesson2/

Student Booklets:

Week	Booklet	Timeframe	Purpose
1	PC Student Booklet p1.pdf Details Download 491 KB	This should take up to 5 days	To learn basic information about computer hardware and how to assemble parts.
2	PC Student Booklet p2.pdf Details Download 535 KB	2-3 days only	To learn how to install an operating system and PC specifications.